The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Set in the near future, THE ROAD is a story about a father and son traveling through the bleak, post-apocalyptic world. In the ash covered earth they struggle scavenging for food and avoiding cannibalistic nomads, all while trying to keep their wits and humanity intact.

Cormac’s writing style simultaneously paints a hopeless world and shows the loving bond between father and son. The ash covered landscapes, toxic air, endless gray skies, constant threat of being hunted, and sparse scraps of food tests the pair’s will to survive. While reading the novel, I often questioned whether it would be better for them to die.

This is indeed a great novel; not one that will cheer you up on a rainy day but move you with intricate emotions. It is a powerful story with a deep writing style. I intend to keep this on my bookshelf for the rest of my life.